<h4>Chapter 119: Viin Simtor, Ch 118</h4>


    Lucas thought to himself, <i>If I ever write a memoir a few decades from now, this experience would definitely make the top three in "My Most Outrageous Near-Death Escapes."</i>


    The onlyfort was that he had already had Barbara''s "first ss of red wine." Otherwise, his current state would''ve been enough to make him lose his sanity.


    "Oh, Daddy, do you needforting?" Klee tugged lightly at Lucas''s sleeve, her little brows knitted with worry. "Klee cares about Daddy a lot!"


    "Daddy''s fine now," Lucas patted Klee''s head with a smile. "And don''t me Barbara; she didn''t mean it."


    "Barbara!" Klee cupped her little hands together and shouted up at Barbara, looking up with a big smile. "Daddy doesn''t me you! And I don''t either!"


    "Well, thanks a lot, you two..." Barbara responded, her face stricken with helpless embarrassment. "So... whose turn is it next? Let''s get this over with; I don''t want to stay like this a second longer than I have to!"


    "But I think it''s amazing!" To everyone''s surprise, Klee looked up at Barbara with envy. "Being able to grow so big is super cool!"


    "It''s not cool at all..." Barbara murmured with a pout. "That''s not the kind of ''growing up'' I wanted, and besides..."


    Besides, that embarrassing moment had almost broken her!


    For a sweet, gentle girl like Barbara, suddenly growing so huge was indeed hard to ept.


    "In any case, the faster we get on with the game, the sooner your size will go back to normal." Without further dy, Lucas picked up the dice and rolled them.


    A three and a five—eight steps.


    [The yer will be teleported to the person who most wants you dead. You will return in three hours; if you die, you will be removed from the game.]


    "The person who most wants Lucas dead?" Jean frowned slightly. "What does that mean?"


    "Captain Jean, something''s wrong!" Klee gasped. "Daddy''s gone again!"


    She nced suspiciously at the enormous Barbara and, hands on her hips, said, "Did Barbara hide Daddy again?"


    "I did not!" Barbara protested, her face—no, her <i>giant</i> face—turning red. "Where would I even hide him?!"


    To be honest, there <i>were</i> ces she could hide him... and more than one.


    Jean looked around, and sure enough, Lucas hadpletely vanished from where he had been standing a moment ago.


    "What happened?" Jean muttered, her face worried. "If he really got teleported to someone who wants to kill him, that could be dangerous."


    "N-no way!" Klee shook her head vigorously. "Daddy''s a good guy. Why would anyone want to kill him?"


    "Good people are often the easiest to hold grudges against," Jean sighed but remained resolute. "But with his skills, I doubt he''d be killed so easily. Don''t worry, Klee."


    "I''m not worried about Daddy—I''m more worried about Barbara!" Klee said with innocent curiosity, scratching her cheek. "If she has to ''go potty'' while she''s this big... wouldn''t the potty be... really big?"


    "Stop thinking about such weird things!" Barbara wailed in embarrassment.


    ---


    <i>Strange... where is this ce?</i>


    Lucas opened his eyes, only to realize that he was no longer on the ind board but in a confined space.


    Beneath him, he felt a gentle swaying.


    <i>It''s... a sedan chair!</i>


    It dawned on him that he was seated inside a pnquin. Drawing back the curtain, he saw that it was nighttime, and he was in Liyue, the familiar streets stretching out beyond him.


    Strangely, even though this was usually when Liyue''s night market would be bustling, the streets were nearly empty, with only a few shops still open.


    Just then, the sedan chair halted, and a deferential voice came from outside:


    "Young Master, there''s a strange woman blocking the road ahead. Should we shoo her away?"


    <i>Young Master?</i>


    Lucas was momentarily puzzled, but he quickly understood.


    In his simtion experiences, he had twice yed the role of a young master. Once was with the Lawrence family in Mondstadt, but since he was currently in Liyue, there was only one possibility.


    He was now in his first simtion, the one involving a dark version of Keqing.


    They say people always remember their first experience most vividly.


    Now he understood the meaning of being "teleported to the person who most wants you dead."


    Indeed, if there were anyone who wanted him dead, she''d undoubtedly be at the top of the list.


    "No need to be rude," Lucas replied, lifting the curtain and stepping out of the sedan. "She... is my guest."


    Sure enough, at the end of the road stood a purple-haired woman. The moonlight was at her back, obscuring her face, but her violet eyes glowed ominously.


    With a sudden "boom," a bolt of lightning cracked across the clear sky, sending a shiver through the sedan-bearers.


    "It''s... it''s the Thunder Rakshasa!"


    "Oh no... it''s that fiend!"


    "Young Master, run! She''s a demoness!"


    It was Keqing, but in this world, she had another identity—Thunder Rakshasa.


    In this simtion, Lucas had yed the role of a school bully who liked to torment his ssmates, especially Keqing. His bullying had led to her being ostracized by her peers. After a series of tragic events, Keqing had not only lost her chance to be the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing but had also chosen to descend into darkness, joining the Abyss Order and bing the "Thunder Rakshasa."


    By this point, Keqing hadmitted several serious crimes in Liyue, and all her victims were former ssmates who had once bullied her. Now, she was here for him, the "mastermind" behind it all.


    In the simtion, Lucas had undoubtedly been executed by Keqing, and now, the board''s magic had transported him to that fateful moment.


    "Well, well... it''s been a long time."


    Keqing walked forward, her movements calm and deliberate as she drew her sword from her waist. The de crackled with lightning.


    Unlike the Keqing of reality, "Thunder Rakshasa" looked identical in appearance and build, but her aura and personality had transformedpletely.


    "Yes," Lucas replied, taking a step toward her, his face unafraid and smiling. "It has been a long time, hasn''t it?"


    The attendants around him were nowpletely terrified, shouting, "Young Master! Don''t go over there! She''s the ruthless Thunder Rakshasa!"


    "Hmph... they''re not wrong," Keqing sneered. "I am indeed a ruthless killer."


    "Oh?" Lucas remarked casually. "Then... don''t your eyes get dry?"


    Keqing blinked, momentarily thrown off guard. She had expected him to be scared out of his wits, yet here he was, making jokes instead.


    "Lucas!" she growled, gritting her teeth and gripping her sword, ready to strike, when suddenly Lucas stretched out his arms and pulled her into an embrace.


    "Keqing!" Lucas patted her back, his voice thick with emotion. "I missed you so much!"


    "You...!" Keqing trembled, shoving him away with fury on her face. "How dare you mock me!"


    "I''m not trying to mock you," Lucas shook his head, smiling. "Ever since you left, I''ve missed you dearly."


    Keqing was momentarily taken aback, but she quickly let out a cold sneer. "Lucas! Do you really think I''m still the naive girl I was ten years ago? Don''t think a few soft words will make me forgive you. All the pain I''ve endured up until now was for one purpose alone... to kill you!"


    With that, Keqing raised her sword, ready to thrust it at Lucas.


    However, Lucas noticed that, perhaps due to his words, Keqing''s movements were slightly slower than usual.


    By now, Lucas''s abilities far exceeded those of thezy, spoiled young master from his first simtion. Instead of being hit, he dodged like a slippery eel, avoiding her de with ease. Seizing the moment, he pinched her cheek with a grin. "Your temper''s as nasty as ever, but you''re even prettier now."


    "You...!"


    Keqing was both embarrassed and enraged, but more than anything, she was shocked. How had Lucas suddenly be so powerful?


    For this revenge, Keqing had nned meticulously. She had carefully studied each target, knowing full well that Lucas was a useless rich kid who knew nothing but falconry and dogs. Confident in her ability to kill him in the street, she''d never expected his strength to have increased so much.


    But she wasn''t about to give up on her revenge. Dark lines of energy began to appear across her skin, crackling with purple lightning. The surge of electricity made Lucas''s fingers sting, and he quickly pulled his hand back.


    This wasn''t the power of a Vision. In this world, Keqing hadn''t been granted a Vision. Her control over Electro energy was the result of modifications from the Abyss Order.


    The dark markings on her skin shimmered like lightning, which had earned her the title "Thunder Rakshasa."


    "Thunderstorm Surge!"


    Keqing''s sword unleashed a fierce bolt of lightning that struck toward Lucas''s chest. Lucas didn''t dodge, instead activating his <i>Diamond Body</i> ability to absorb the first blow.


    Although this ability reduced the attack''s damage by ny percent, Lucas still felt a numbing sensation throughout his body. If he had taken the full force, he''d likely be paralyzed.


    It was undeniable that this "Thunder Rakshasa" was stronger than the real Keqing—though that power came at a price.


    Lucas could see the pain in her eyes, twisted with hatred and suffering.


    Seeing that her powerful technique had failed, Keqing gritted her teeth, unleashing a flurry of strikes at Lucas, all aimed at his chest. But with his agile movements, Lucas dodged each one with ease.


    "Damn it!" Keqing shouted in frustration. "If you''re so strong, then fight back! Or are you just here to toy with me?"


    "Well, since you asked..."


    Lucas slipped behind her, and before she could react, he reached up and plucked a hairpin from her hair. Her violet hair cascaded down, and he twirled the hairpin between his fingers with a smirk.


    The hairpin wasn''t particrly beautiful and was rather old-fashioned, but it gleamed from being worn so often.


    [Talent Activated: <i>A Knight Never Fights Barehanded.</i>]


    [New Weapon Acquired: <i>Thunderstrike Pin</i>]


    [Effect: Increases attack speed by 30%, adds Electro damage]


    Seeing her hairpin in his hand, Keqing was furious. "Give that back!"


    "Oh, you want it?" Lucas continued twirling it with a mischievous grin. "Come and take it."


    "Die!"


    Keqing''s anger red, her lightning intensifying. The crackling electricity on her de lit up the night sky.


    Sword shed with lightning, hairpin glinted with silver.


    Keqing''s strikes were fast and fierce, but Lucas deflected each one effortlessly with the small hairpin. Sparks of electricity flew as their weapons shed in the dimly lit street, illuminating the scene with a flickering glow.


    The few people left on the street fled in fear, leaving only Lucas''s servants, who, too worried about their master''s safety, stayed close despite their terror.


    They could hardly believe what they were witnessing. The usuallyzy young master, who never seemed to take anything seriously, was now skillfully holding his own against the infamous "Thunder Rakshasa" with just a hairpin.


    While Lucas remained calm, Keqing grew increasingly anxious. Killing someone in the middle of the street was dangerous enough, and her n had been to finish him in two minutes and then flee.


    But now, after battling Lucas for so long, she knew it wouldn''t be long before the Ministry of Affairs dispatched guards. Not only would her revenge fail, but she herself might be captured.


    Realizing this, Keqing frowned and crossed her des over her chest, summoning even more lightning.


    "Secret Sword: Celestial Thunder Parade!"


    In a sh, Keqing leapt into the air, splitting into a dozen lightning-formed shadows that encircled Lucas.


    This technique, created bybining her family''s <i>Cloud Sword Style</i> with Electro power, was her fastest and most lethal move, one so swift it could seemingly strike down stars.


    No one had ever escaped her shadow-de formation unscathed.


    However, rather than trying to escape, Lucas closed his eyes as he stood surrounded.


    <i>Is he surrendering to his fate?</i>


    Keqing smirked, her shadows charging at him from all directions, while her true form waited just behind him, prepared to strike through his chest.


    But just as Keqing moved, Lucas abruptly spun around and hurled the hairpin straight at her face. Startled, Keqing reflexively blocked with her sword. At that moment, Lucas slipped under her defenses, grabbed her ankle, and with a powerful twist, mmed her down onto the ground.


    Keqing felt a jolt of pain through her entire body, her head spinning from the impact. In the distance, she suddenly heard the sound of disciplined, hurried footsteps.


    "Ministry of Affairs! All unrted individuals, clear the area!"


    Hearing this, Keqing''s heart filled with despair.


    She had endured years of suffering and even descended into the Abyss for power, only for it all to end like this.


    She was a wanted criminal with numerous charges, and if the Ministry of Affairs captured her, her fate would be sealed. Furious, she red at Lucas, "Just... kill me!"


    "Why would I kill you?" Lucas picked her up, cing her inside his sedan chair. As he closed the curtain, he shot her a meaningful smile and said, "We''re old ssmates, Keqing... our story isn''t over yet."


    The sedan-bearers and servants, seeing Lucas carry the "Thunder Rakshasa" into the chair, looked at each other in shock. But Lucas cast a cold nce at them, saying, "I''m taking her back for interrogation. Be careful not to let any word of this slip."


    The sedan-bearers exchanged nervous nces before nodding.


    Although the eldest young master Lucas was usually arrogant andzy, at this moment, he exuded a powerful aura that made it hard for anyone to breathe.